Phenylbutyrate for Monogenetic Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

Running, not enrolling · Early Phase 1

Conditions studied: STXBP1 Encephalopathy With Epilepsy, SLC6A1 Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy

In brief

This study is to evaluate the use of glycerol phenylbutyrate for monogenetic developmental epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). DEEs are characterized by epilepsy and developmental delay in early life. Two examples of DEEs are STXBP1 and SLC6A1, though there are dozens of others. STXBP1 Encephalopathy is a severe disease that can cause seizures and developmental delays in infants and children. SLC6A1 neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by developmental delay and often epilepsy. Both STXBP1 encephalopathy and SLC6A1 neurodevelopmental disorder cause symptoms because there are not enough working proteins made by these genes. It is possible that a medication called phenylbutyrate may help the the remaining proteins work better for STXBP1, SLC6A1, and/or other similar DEEs caused by single genes (i.e. "monogenetic"). This study is to test if glycerol phenylbutyrate is safe and well tolerated in children with monogenetic DEE.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04937062

Run by

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

People needed

50

Starts

2021-03-01

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-22

Who can join

Age: any, up to 17. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Diagnosed with STXBP1-E or SLC6A1-NDD; confirmed by laboratory report (i.e., a genetic test with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation of STXBP1 or SLC6A1-NDD and a clinical picture consistent with the disorder, as determined by the Investigator). Patients with the appropriate clinical picture, a de novo variant of uncertain significance in STXBP1 or SLC6A1-NDD will also be eligible for enrollment, at the discretion of the Investigator.
• Is between 2 months and 17 years of age, inclusive.
• For children with STXBP1-E, the child must have had at least one seizure in the past 30 days prior to enrollment. If there is high demand for the study and we have several subjects to choose, we will prefer to enroll children with a high number of seizures in the past month.
• For SLC6A1-NDD, seizures occur later in the course (typically middle of 1st decade) and so seizures will not be an entry criteria.
• Is in general good health, aside from neurological consequences of STXBP1-E or SLC6A1-NDD, as determined by having no concurrent medical illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, that places the subject at increased risk of adverse drug reactions or that will interfere with study follow-up.
• Has normal laboratory test results (≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal [ULN]) for serum aminotransferase (aspartate aminotransferas [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) concentrations and ammonia at Screening.
• Has normal renal function, with estimated glomerular filtration rate > 90 mL/minute/1.73 m2 at Screening (using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation).
• Has a platelet count > 150 × 103/μL at Screening.
• Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) < 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
• Parent or guardian is able to comprehend and willing to sign an informed consent form (ICF).

You may not qualify if…

• Has participated in another investigational study within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the test drug's biologic activity (whichever is longer) before the first study drug dose.
• Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) ≥ 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
• Has an active medical illness that would preclude participation in the study (as determined by the Investigator).
• Has a clinical laboratory evaluation outside of the test laboratory reference range, unless deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator and the Sponsor.
• Is unable to comply with the study protocol.
• Has poor venous access and/or cannot tolerate venipuncture.
• Is pregnant
• Is a female of child-bearing age (12 years old or older) and known to be sexually active (for example, as determined through a confidential HEADDSSS history), and not taking medication for contraception. This will be assessed confidentially as per good general pediatrics practice
• Known hypersensitivity to phenylbutyrate. Signs of hypersensitivity include wheezing, dyspnea, coughing, hypotension, flushing, nausea, and rash.
• Taking alfentanil, quinidine, cyclosporine, or probenecid (known interactions with phenylbutyrate). For subjects who had taken any of these medications in the past, the last dose must have been taken at least 1 week prior to enrollment into the study.
• Inborn errors of beta oxidation.
• Pancreatic insufficiency or intestinal malabsorption
• ###### MONOGENETIC DEE ARM Inclusion Criteria
• Diagnosed with a monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy; confirmed by laboratory report (i.e., a genetic test with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation of a monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy and a clinical picture consistent with the disorder, as determined by the Investigator). Children with the appropriate clinical picture, a de novo variant of uncertain significance in a monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy will also be eligible for enrollment, at the discretion of the Investigator. If the mutant is classified as definitively non-pathogenic, we would not enroll the child. "Appropriate clinical picture" is at the discretion of the Investigator.
• Is between 0 months and 15 years of age, inclusive.
• The child must have had at least one seizure in the past 30 days prior to enrollment. (If there is high demand for the study and we have several subjects to choose, we will prefer to enroll children with a high number of seizures in the past month.)
• Is in general good health, aside from neurological consequences of their monogenic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, as determined by having no concurrent medical illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, that places the subject at increased risk of adverse drug reactions or that will interfere with study follow-up.
• Has normal laboratory test results (≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal [ULN]) for serum aminotransferase (aspartate aminotransferas [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) concentrations and ammonia.
• Has normal renal function, with estimated glomerular filtration rate > 90 mL/minute/1.73 m2 at Screening (using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation).
• Has a platelet count > 150 × 103/μL at Screening.
• Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) < 450 msec on the Screening EKG.
• Parent or guardian is able to comprehend and willing to sign an informed consent form (ICF).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Has participated in another investigational study within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the test drug's biologic activity (whichever is longer) before the first study drug dose.
• Has a QT interval corrected with Fridericia's formula (QTcF) ≥ 450 msec on the Screening EKG.

Where it is running

• Children's Hospital Colorado — Aurora, Colorado, United States
• Weill Cornell Medicine — New York, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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